349 Best Restaurants in Mexico

As you sit at umbrella-shaded tables in a gracious courtyard framed by bougainvillea, serenaded by Mexican music, you'll be transported back to a simpler Mexico. The margaritas are good, and the menu is interesting, from a well-developed pozole verde (a rich soup made with hominy) to juicy cochinita pibíl (pork baked in banana leaf) with black beans and the traditional pickled onions. The enchiladasMéxico Lindo and enchiladas mineras are also crowd-pleasers. The restaurant is out in the quiet residential neighborhood of La Presa de la Olla, a nice neighborhood for a walk, and it opens at 9 am for breakfast if you're out early.

It can get chilly in winter; make sure to wear warm clothing.

Deliciously prepared chiles rellenos—stuffed with cheese, beef, fish, and vegetables—are the attraction at Miguel's; the signature version is made with shrimp. Look for the sign out front claiming these are the main attraction, as well as the faded but framed New York Times article, which proclaims them the best in all of Baja.

Strategically positioned a few blocks west of the U.S. embassy and close to the Japanese embassy, this spot is notable for its varied sushi and teppanyaki options. A fine Japanese chef and a cheerful mix of Japanese embassy workers and young Mexicans also make Mikado a real treat.

For a fancy lunch with panoramic views of the bay and beach, visit Mismaloya Grill inside the La Jolla de Mismaloya condo complex. Formerly known as María Bonita Restaurant, this place has a long history in the area and arguably is the best restaurant in town. As a starter, calamari fritti is one of the best options, and among the main dishes try the orange-glazed salmon, which is simply delicious. 

If you are looking for an authentic taco joint where the locals go, this is the place. The tacos al pastor, carved from a vertical spit, are big, juicy, and inexpensive. Add a cup of frijoles charros (beans and pork soup), and you have one of the best cheap meals you will find on the island.

A darling nook ideal for cat lovers, couches and cushions make for comfortable seating in a small, quiet space. You might have to duck your head to get in, but it serves as an espresso, tea, and coffee shop as well as a gift shop for all things cat-related.

This fantastic stop for breakfast and lunch serves fresh, delicious food in a pleasant environment. Try the eggs Benedict and homemade muffins.

An outpost of Los Angeles’ Michelin-starred Osteria Mozza, Mozza Baja blends the best parts of LA and Italy with the cool, casual spirit of the East Cape. The menu features wood-fired pizzas, pasta dishes, and excellent antipasta options. If you come from the Four Seasons, you can arrive and depart via a complimentary water taxi.

Chilaquiles, pancakes, waffles, baked goods, omelets … whatever you want for breakfast, they have it. This Nuevo Vallarta newcomer has been a total success and a great excuse to leave your nearby hotel to eat good food any given morning. It tends to be full on Sunday, so reservations are a good idea.

One of the first purely vegan options in the area, this hidden spot serves more South Asian fusion rather than the traditional Indian fare that's advertised. Still, it’s a great option for vegans, with very affordable prices, a lively color scheme featuring brightly painted peach and turquoise walls, and five white tables alongside the kitchen. The restaurant looks out onto Jardín Mascarones Park.

The cavernous space, lined in red brick, makes the restaurant look rather generic, but it's actually family-owned and run and oh-so-personable. Try the regional dishes like goat stew and enchiladas, pizza, or a daily special such as beef tongue or jocoque (strained yogurt). It's named for the small town 14 km (9 miles) from Mascota, not the Christmas holiday, which is the only day this restaurant closes. 

Throughout the day, Condesa's traditional Mexican ice-cream parlor—and its several other locations around the city—packs in kids and hipsters alike with its nieve (sorbet) flavors like maracuyá (passionfruit) and tuna (prickly pear cactus fruit) and its helado (ice cream) flavors, including rompope (eggnog) and macadamia. Popular since it opened in 1946, it's distinctly old-school, with teal vinyl chairs, white tables, and bright fluorescent lights, but the quality is first-rate. Roxy enjoys a friendly competition with another beloved ice-cream chain, Tepoznieves.

All of the delicious homemade ice cream at this popular, eco-conscious dessert spot is served in waffle cones or bowls with edible spoons---no plastics or inorganic materials are used here. There are always about a dozen flavors on hand, including seasonal specials like cempasúchil (marigold) and pineapple-basil as well as regular favorites like lemon pie and marzipan.

Although it's open all day, this sparkling little coffee shop is best known for its breakfasts. This branch opened after the success of the original eatery in downtown Zihuatanejo. It's both more polished and more endearing, yet serves the same deli-style fresh Mexican food that's been served for 30 years at the original restaurant. Sit at the counter, at the varnished wood tables with six swivel chairs, or in the tiny booths. Options include fresh fruit juices, coconut milk shakes, banana splits, omelets, enchiladas, salads, soup, and tortas (sandwiches on large, crusty rolls with beans, avocado, and cheese).

On busy weeknights, it seems everyone in Puerto Escondido wants to eat here. Originally created to serve backpackers at the hostel of the same name, the restaurant began drawing food fans willing to make the pilgrimage across town to enjoy its winning combination of expertly prepared cuisine, good value, and fun vibe. The eco-friendly decor and contemporary menu are inspired by the music of the 1960s and '70s, so expect to see dishes such as "Groovy Chicken" or "Give Peace a Chance" (a generous portion of fresh dorado breaded with toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds and slathered with chili aioli). Sides include tabbouleh salad, crispy browned baby potatoes, and local greens. The eclectic menu has lots of vegetarian choices, pizzas, and pastas—all served with flair.

Playa de Hornos, a popular stretch of sand south of the Acuario de Veracruz, is lined with thatch-roof seafood shacks. They all serve basically the same thing: fish cooked any way you like it. This place, with a giant neon sailfish positioned on the roof, is among the closest to the aquarium and one of the best. Grab a table in the open-air dining room or one under an umbrella along the surf.

This bakery just a few blocks north of Parque Santa Ana is a great place to start your day with a light breakfast of a pastry and a coffee. It has a small garden and plenty of seating if you want to linger for awhile at your laptop. The decor is an inviting updated colonial style with pasta-tile floors and more contemporary touches, such as the steel staircase leading up to the second-story seating. You'll only wish it didn't close so early—at 1 pm during the week and 2 pm on the weekends. 

With 12 kinds of pancakes—including the "Oh Henry," with chocolate bits and peanut butter—and eight kinds of waffles, your child (or inner child) will certainly find something to like. The large dining room is filled with local families on weekends and homesick travelers. The draped back patio is pretty, but it's like a greenhouse when the day heats up. 

Don't let the bare walls and basic furniture fool you—this restaurant, a few blocks east of Parque Mejorada, offers one of Mérida's best dining experiences. Chefs Xóchitl Valdés and Selena Cárdenas have impressed gourmets with their celebration of corn, the basis of many of the dishes served here. Before you leave, stop in at the adjacent store, which sells local honey and honey products, from candies to shampoo. 

You'll know this tiny storefront by the cluster of people waiting patiently on the sidewalk for a full loaf or single serving of panque de nata, pound cake made in a style traditional to the nearby state of Queretaro. Pillowy, buttery, and sweet, a piece makes for a perfect snack while winding your way through the nearby Ciudadela and San Juan markets.

PanVero is an absolute godsend for travelers with dietary restrictions: every item on the menu is gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based---and at least half of the items are vegan, as well. Only natural and organic ingredients are used, so feel free to order a sweet treat without feeling guilty. It's a little bit of a drive from town, but there's a cute takeout window, should you want your order to go.

The scent of freshly baked bread is the first thing you'll notice, tempting you to skip the restaurant altogether and just grab a few of the warm rolls and a jar of locally made preserves. But the so-called "House of Bread" serves a fabulous, if leisurely, breakfast. For lunch, try the tasty tamales chiapanecos (with a spicy cheese filling) or the mild chilies stuffed with corn and herbs. Round out your meal with bean soup and one of the best salads in town.

Opened in the summer of 2014, Paprika has no Hungarian dishes, as some diners expect. Rather, there's "contemporary comfort food" for an internationally oriented palate, like the large bowl of pasta puttanesca, or spaghetti topped with shrimp and clams in a subtle, fresh, white-wine sauce. Enjoy hearty main salads, panfried broccoli gomasio (a Japanese condiment of sesame seeds and sea salt), and perfectly seasoned rack of lamb. Candles bless the colonial courtyard (and its authentic altar) in the evening; the inside dining room is comfortable shabby-chic.

The Guinness Book of World Records honored the founder of this friendly seafood restaurant for dreaming up the world's longest seafood-stuffed fillet of fish, which was once prepared in the street along the waterfront. You can find smaller, but equally scrumptious concoctions and live midday music at this open-air dining room. Especially popular are the camarones Pardiños (juicy shrimp stuffed with manchego cheese and wrapped in bacon) and ostiones a la diabla gratinados (spicy oysters topped with grated cheese). Dishes like cheese-stuffed plantains satisfy vegetarians.

Seafood doesn't get any fresher than at this open-air restaurant bar and grill on the beach in front of the fishing boats of Playa Principal. Each morning, owner Ludovic Tisseur, who hails from Lyon, France, sources what's freshest from local fishermen, so the menu features an ever-evolving array of seafood from decadent lobster to a delicious shrimp and fish brochette. Pascale's is also the place to go for expertly grilled T-bone steaks, classic Chateaubriand, or house-made tortellini. Attentive service matches the ultraromantic ambience of candles, white linen tablecloths, and graceful palm trees. Call ahead if you have your heart set on lobster.

Come for the excellent coffee as well as the most scrumptious pies, cookies, and cakes.

Come hungry to Piña Loca; all portions in this simple restaurant are huge but without the huge bill to match. Try the fajitas in lava bowls, the burrito norteño, or the shrimp salad. Tip: most plates are large enough for two people!